Thursday, 25 February 2010

Forthcoming in 2010!American Woodies 1928-1953By Colin Peck.Looks at the American Woodies built from the 1920s to the early 1950s, which came in a variety of models including station wagons, convertibles and sedans. Whereas the station wagons were built for functionality, the Woodie sedans and convertibles were constructed purely for style. More info.

Tuesday, 23 February 2010

The eagerly anticipated battle for the 2010 MSA Gravel Rally Championship gets underway next weekend when crews from all over the UK as well as further afield converge on the South coast resorts of Bournemouth and Poole for the annual ANCRO season opener as the 25th annual Rallye Sunseeker roars into life.

And with the best entry assembled in recent years, fans on the South Coast's premier motorsport event will be revelling in the atmosphere amidst the Dorset forests.

Six-times event winner and very much the local hero Marcus Dodd from nearby Poole along with co driver Andrew Bargery from just down the coast at Hove, will be looking to win back the crown they relinquished to Isle of Wight Subaru driver Will Nicholls and co driver Nick Broom last year, and given that Nicholls and Broom are not returning to defend their title, the Hyundai Accent WRC pairing will start the event as one of the favourites.

Whereas Dodd is the reigning Pirelli MSA Gravel Rally Champion having landed the crown five times in total and the last three times in succession, he faces stiff opposition as heading the challenge will be four former champions who are making a welcome return to the fold.

Twice Rallye Sunseeker winner Roger Duckworth and co driver Mark Broomfield took the Championship honours in 1998 and the driver who lives near Silverstone is back for another crack at the title in his venerable Subaru whereas 2004 ANCRO winner and VK boss Steve Perez from Chesterfield along with co driver Paul Spooner has the ex Marcus Gronholm Ford Focus WRC07 at his disposal and is fresh from winning last weekend's Wyedean Rally. 2005 Champion Paul Bird is back with a vengeance in his works-specification Ford Focus WRC08 and the flamboyant chicken farmer from Penrith has won his last three events in a row along with co driver Kirsty Riddick but like Perez, has never sampled Sunseeker glory. The other winner of the national title to take to the start line is Ulsterman Kenny McKinstry who won the series in 1999 and the Subaru WRC driver will be looking to repeat his win on Rallye Sunseeker of 2002, this time with co driver Harvey Bell on the notes.

The rivalry between Perez and Bird is legendary in Rallye Sunseeker history, but they, as well as Dodd, Duckworth and McKinstry, will be having to look to their rear view mirrors as there are a host of top names expected to be in the mix come Saturday afternoon.

Double British Champion Jonny Milner is reunited with his trusty Toyota Corolla WRC and co driver Ian Windress so could be the dark horse whilst Irish marauders Richard Cathcart/Martin Brady (Subaru WRC) and Jonny Greer (Mitsubishi Evo 9) could spring a surprise. County Durham driver Stephen Petch teams up with John Richardson in their Hyundai Accent WRC and don't rule out local aces Anthony Willmington/Andrew White (Mitsubishi Evo 6) and Scotsman Dave Weston Jnr and Ieuan Thomas in their latest version Subaru. Scandinavian drivers Daniel Sigurdarson and Johannes Gunnarson add to the international ambience in their respective Mitsubishis as part of the shakedown for the upcoming Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge.

With the traditional Friday evening Winter Gardens and Seafront stage not included this year, the event gets underway with a pompous ceremonial start at Poole Quayside at 18.15 on Friday, before the event proper starts on Saturday morning with the traditional loops around the forests and stately homes of Ringwood and Wareham before the winners' champagne is uncorked in Bournemouth town centre around 17.30.

Jean-François Bouzanquet (author of Fast Ladies) has been featured in a double-page story, first published in FASTLANE, a motorsports magazine based in Singapore. Many thanks to Cheryl Tay for the article.

It took a great deal of determination on the part of women to sweep aside male resistance from the inner circles of the motoring world. A veritable saga with a wealth of illustrations spanning almost a century of motor racing. Over forty unique portraits of daring, brave women who took part in speed records events, rallies and Grand Prix races. More info.

Wednesday, 17 February 2010

An evocative and original look at the history of eight abandoned race circuits in the USA and Europe, and viewed as they are today in stunning new photographs.
Around the world languish a number of long-forgotten raceways; windswept and abandoned, the derelict pit roads and crumbling concrete are all that remain of once great race tracks. From the NASCAR heartland of North Wilkesboro and Middle Georgia to the great European super speedways at Monza and Brooklands, these faded circuits are now monuments to the victories, defeats, triumphs and tragedies once played out before excited crowds.
With roots as diverse as Nationalist Socialism and Prohibition-era bootlegging, the histories of these places offer an insight to different times and attitudes, as well as the evolution of motor racing. Many of the characters who raced on these circuits had a profound impact on their sport; these circuits, which fostered and occasionally destroyed such great drivers, are revisited here – photographed as they are now, but also remembered in their prime by word and picture.
With over 180 images, this unique and evocative book is available now from bookshops or from www.velocebooks.com.

Friday, 12 February 2010

Entries have come in from all over the world ... ... Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA, Europe, Africa and, of course, the UK. The competition runs until August 15th, so there's still plenty of time to get your entry in. Please keep them coming to jk@veloce.co.uk.

Even if you don't have a photo to contribute, take a look at all the great entries so far, and vote for your favourite, either by posting a comment on the blog, or emailing jk@veloce.co.uk.

Thursday, 11 February 2010

Check out the latest picture on our blog header – a fantastic interior shot of an Italia convertible, the product of Frank Reisner and his company, Intermeccanica – one of many great photos from our forthcoming book, Intermeccanica - The Story of the Prancing Bull. With a Nardi steering wheel and handcrafted leather seating, the Italia's cockpit rivaled many luxury sports cars in the late-1960s. (Picture courtesy of Dan Eastwood)

Frank Reisner, a Hungarian-born Canadian, turned a youthful passion for cars into one of the world’s most famous small sports car building companies. From modest beginnings in Turin, Intermeccanica designed & produced a dozen different but exciting models that shook the motoring world in the '60s & '70s.

Wednesday, 10 February 2010

The Ferrari 458 Italia has been declared “Supercar of the Year” by GQ Magazine, the UK’s most important and influential men’s style magazine. The magazine described the newest addition to the Ferrari range as “a motor that elicits the most primal response from all who see it, while moving engineering on to a whole new level”, with the engine in particular being described as a “masterpiece”.

The GQ Magazine award comes on the back of another recent award from BBC Top Gear Magazine which voted the Ferrari 458 Italia not only their “Supercar of the Year” but their overall “Car of the Year”.

The Ferrari 458 Italia was revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September to immediate critical acclaim. Following an extensive international media test drive programme in Maranello, the home of the fabled Prancing Horse, the car has been the subject of enthusiastic reviews, with its handling, roadholding, ride comfort and performance all being subject to the kind of superlatives rarely seen from the world’s leading journalists.

Tuesday, 9 February 2010

It's been a long time coming, but Crystal Palace will once again play host to a national motorsport event. Motorsport at the Palace, sponsored by the Ancaster Group, have confirmed that a two-day sprint event will be run over the May Bank Holiday weekend (30-31 May 2010), reigniting the spirit of racing at the Park.

Organised by Sevenoaks and District Motor Club (Sevenoaks DMC), with the support of the London Borough of Bromley, the two-day event will allow visitors to enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the legendary machines which powered the likes of Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart and Stirling Moss to victory.

Martin Chinnery, Chairman of Sevenoaks DMC, says: "Sevenoaks DMC is extremely pleased to announce the return of motorsport to Crystal Palace. Thanks to a lot of hard work and the support of our title sponsor, the Ancaster Group, we're delighted that fans will once again be able to experience racing at the Palace. The range of cars competing, coupled with additional events and displays, will make this a fantastic event for everyone, whether you're a motorsport fan or just after a fun day out."

Stephen Wood, Managing Director of Ancaster, added: "It's not every day you have the opportunity to become a part of history in the making. This event has South London roots older than our own. To see some truly fantastic pieces of machinery - old and new - will make these two days an event not to be missed."

Celebrating the rich history of motorsport at Crystal Palace, a host of modern and vintage cars will be competing for the accolade of fastest car at the Park. Many of these vehicles raced at the Palace decades ago, and spectators will have a unique opportunity to see these classic machines reacquainted with Britain's oldest purpose-built race track. There will also be a new category for electric and alternative-powered cars, providing visitors with a glimpse of things to come, both on the race track and the road.

Competitors will race along a section of the old track, incorporating Pond Hairpin, the Big Tree Bend part of the Terrace Straight and the infamous North Tower Crescent - in a bid to set the fastest time of the day.

Visitors seeking a break from the action will be able to stroll around the numerous display vehicles and open paddock, watching mechanics at work, chatting to the drivers and generally soaking up the racing atmosphere.

Competitors will each donate a minimum £10 in support of St. Christopher's Hospice and the Royal London Society for the Blind; exhibitors will also contribute, ensuring that Motorsport at the Palace provides a lasting benefit to the community.

Monday, 8 February 2010

McRae Vision, the charity set up in the aftermath of Colin's tragic accident in 2007, will be attending The Kick Energy-sponsored Rally Show at Chatsworth over the weekend of 5/6th June.

Amongst its objectives, the charity supports causes and runs initiatives particularly for the benefit of underprivileged children and the education of young persons involved in motorsport. They have recently presented a cheque for £35,000 to purchase specialist medical equipment for a new paediatric intensive care ambulance for which further funds are being raised by the Yorkhill Children's Foundation.

Rally Show Ltd is delighted to announce that McRae Vision is presenting the 'Colin McRae Driver of the Rally Show' perpetual trophy for the first time this year. It will be presented to the driver and car combination that gives most enjoyment to the spectators at Chatsworth over the weekend. The recipient will be decided by representatives from both Colin McRae Vision and The Rally Show Ltd.

Entries for the popular stage sessions are filling up and, with four months still to go, over 40% of the available places have already been allocated. Amongst cars already entered are two Audi Quattros (the originals of which celebrate their 40th anniversary in 2010), a Nissan 200 S13, the Greenwood Motorsport Vauxhall Chevette HS and Charley Blaney's MG Metro 6R4.

Entries are now open for the competitive events and regulations are available to download from www.therallyshow.org. There will be five events each running over the two days of the show, including the popular "All-Comers" event, an Historic Challenge catering for all four categories of the HRCR and the GT event for sports and GT cars which will be split into three date categories. Last year this event was famously won by Mark Higgins in the Aston Martin Rally GT, beating off the challenge of the German Porsches!

There is also an event for FIA-homologated cars and a new departure this time, the 'Baja Chatsworth' for off-road cars. This will be split into two categories; one for the astonishing XR 150 single-seater buggies and the other caters for the super-powerful traditional high-powered off road cars. An early entry has already been received from the Milner R5 which was built in nearby Matlock and will be driven by Steve Lloyd.

Spectators who purchase their tickets in February, March and April will automatically go into a draw for two rides in a rally car at Chatsworth. The winners in the December one are from Hereford and Ashbourne while those successful in January are both from Chesterfield.

Tuesday, 2 February 2010

The Daily Mirror World Cup Rally 40 – The World’s Toughest Rally in Retrospectby Graham Robson.Continuing for six weeks, and covering 16,000 miles from London to Mexico City via some of the most varying, tortuous and difficult terrain on three continents, the 1970 World Cup Rally was a unique high-speed event, attracting many serious works teams such as Ford and British Leyland.Despite the tremendous amounts of money spent choosing and developing new cars, completing months-long route surveys, and analysing every detail of diets, oxygen provision, and the number of crew members, out of an entry of more than 100 cars, only 23 cars made it to the finish.It was then, and remains now, the toughest rally of all time. More info.

Monday, 1 February 2010

At the time, Craig was the US distributor for Rickman Brothers (Don & Derek pictured below being welcomed into Craig's Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2007).

The Café Racer Phenomenon by Alastair Walker.The Café Racer is one of the most enduring styles of motorcycle ever created, capturing the rebellious spirit of the '50s. This is a look back at the glory days of the Café Racer, from Friday night dices on the North Circular, through the street specials craze of the Seventies, to the modern day revival. More info.